EEE mosquitoes found in Amherst area

BOSTON — The state health department says this summer's first mosquitoes testing positive for Eastern equine encephalitis have been confirmed in Amherst.

The health department said Tuesday the mosquitoes were collected on July 23. The finding places Amherst at moderate risk for the virus, along with nearby Belchertown, which had a case of EEE in a horse last year. In previous years, EEE has been found more commonly in Southeastern Massachusetts.

West Nile virus was found in mosquitoes in Boston and Falmouth last week.

No human cases of either EEE or West Nile have been reported this year.

Seven EEE cases were reported last year, and two deaths. There were 22 West Nile cases, and one death, last year, when larger numbers of cases were reported around the country after a mild winter.